復 原 耶 穌 基 督 教 會 台 灣 佈 道 所
The Church of Jesus Christ Taiwan Restoration Mission
January 18th, 2015虔誠的遠景 Godly Perspective
(長老 法蘭克 Elder Frank Van Fleet)
“Perspective”有透視,遠景的解釋.我們看事物的角度,也許依關係的親疏,而有不同的看法.今天,我想談一談有關虔誠的遠景“Godly Respective”對我們的重要性.
哥林多前書 1 Corinthians 13:11-12
11 我作孩子的時候、話語像孩子、心思像孩子、意念像孩子．既成了人、就把孩子的事丟棄了。
When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me.
12 我們如今彷彿對著鏡子觀看、模糊不清．〔模糊不清原文作如同猜謎〕到那時、就要面對面了．我如今所知道的有限．到那時就全知道、如同主知道我一樣。
Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
使徒保羅在對主的認知中,有如此深切的認識,那是因他全心全意的敬畏 神,所以得到全面性的認知與成長.就好像我們長大了,心智也跟著一起成長.
哥林多前書 1 Corinthians 3:1-2
1 弟兄們、我從前對你們說話、不能把你們當作屬靈的、只得把你們當作屬肉體、在基督裡為嬰孩的。
And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.
2 我是用奶餵你們、沒有用飯餵你們．那時你們不能喫、就是如今還是不能。
I have fed you with milk, and not with meat; for hitherto ye were not able to receive it, neither yet now are ye able.
在主的道裡面,我們就像初出生的嬰兒般,一點一滴的吸取如奶水般的靈糧,滋養義的成長,等我們成長且純淨如昔,我們就能有如 神看待事物的公義性.那我們就會有一個虔誠的遠景.
但是,我們還只能看到小小的一部分,遠遠比不上能窺全豹的 神,因為祂的遠景是一個王國,是一處能個容納適合與祂一起,永遠居住在那裏的人們.
當耶穌基督堅毅的朝著耶路撒冷前行時,十二位門徒也都隨侍在旁. 祂知道前行路途中有種種的險阻,和反對勢力的痛苦陷阱在等祂,可是也知道那最後勝利的樂章,所以仍然義無反顧.
路加福音 Luke 9:51-57
51 耶穌被接上升的日子將到、他就定意向耶路撒冷去、
As the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem.
52 便打發使者在他前頭走．他們到了撒瑪利亞的一個村莊、要為他豫備。
And he sent messengers on ahead, who went into a Samaritan village to get things ready for him;
53 那裡的人不接待他、因他面向耶路撒冷去。
but the people there did not welcome him, because he was heading for Jerusalem.
54 他的門徒、雅各、約翰、看見了、就說、主阿、你要我們吩咐火從天上降下來、燒滅他們、像以利亞所作的麼。〔有古卷無像以利亞所作的數字〕
When the disciples James and John saw this, they asked, "Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them?"
55 耶穌轉身責備兩個們徒說、你們的心如何、你們並不知道。
But Jesus turned and rebuked them,
56 人子來不是要滅人的性命、〔性命或作靈魂下同〕是要救人的性命．說著就往別的村莊去了。〔有古卷只有五十五節首句五十六節末句〕
and they went to another village.
57 他們走路的時候、有一個人對耶穌說、你無論往那裡去、我要跟從你。
As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, "I will follow you wherever you go."
在這個行程裡,我們可以預見耶穌基督一行,因為他們要前往耶路撒冷,而撒瑪利亞人對猶太人並不友善,所以並不受撒瑪利亞人的歡迎.
與此同時,十二位門徒中,至少有兩位雅各和約翰說:主啊!要不要像以利亞那樣,招喚一把火把他們都給燒了?[編按:參考列王記上18章先知以利亞引天火燒祭壇鬥巴力, (巴力Baal,即所謂的太陽神,是世界上最古老的信仰之一,信徒不但把祂當作天上的王,又是土地之神崇拜,以為五穀、牲畜的昌盛都在祂的管制之下.]
倆使徒只想要以天火,燒盡那些不友善和排斥他們的人,他們沒有想到每個人,都有追求永生的權利.所以,耶穌基督當下隨即斥喝他倆,你們不明白你們的聖靈,對於人子來說,不是要來取人的性命的,而是要拯救他們(這就是我們所提的虔誠的遠景)他們就轉往其他村落.
於是,耶穌基督帶領其他門徒,來到那祂想帶去愛與和平的信息,卻被拒絕在外的村落,那不懷善意的村人,想必不會給予他什麼好的招待.
我們生活周遭需要有虔誠的遠景,不管生活將帶領我們走向何方,我們謹記所有的事工,就是要他們也像我們一樣愛上帝,使他們也能擁有選擇永生福祉的權利.
羅馬書 Romans 8:28
我們曉得萬事都互相效力、叫愛 神的人得益處、就是按他旨意被召的人。
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
所以我相信,今天在座的各位,都是以相同的目的來做這事工.
Doctrine & Covenants 教義與聖約
[Sec 4:1c] 因此，你們若有事奉神的心願，就被召喚做這事工；
4:1c “Therefore if ye have desires to serve God ye are called to the work”.
我 們 需 要 信 靠 與 遵 從 耶 和 華
Trust and Obey to the Lord
有時候,我們想糟透了,這種事竟然會發生在我的身上,殊不知,結果往往變成是驚喜與大大的祝福.如同我們先前曾聽到有關 Belinda的見證,昔日火車上的那個不適、不安,何嘗不是換來今日接受聖靈眷顧的喜悅?
我想簡單的分享一個,美麗的拿俄米的故事(名字涵意為和藹可親)詳細內容可在舊約路得記第一章到第四章找到.
在饑荒的猶大伯利恆,有一個婦人拿俄米,婚後隨著丈夫帶兩個兒子往摩押地去寄居.後來她的丈夫死了,剩下婦人和他兩個兒子.這兩個兒子娶了摩押女子為妻,一個名叫俄珥巴,一個名叫路得.在那裡住了約有十年,不久後,兩個兒子也死了.
於是,拿俄米和兩個兒媳起行離開所住的地方,要回猶大地.途中拿俄米對兩個兒媳說,妳們各自回娘家去罷,並祝福她們.於是拿俄米與她們吻別.當她們表示要跟隨著拿俄米時,拿俄米對她們說:因為耶和華並沒有眷顧我.
最後,俄珥巴與婆婆吻別,打包歸回她的本國.只是路得捨不得拿俄米.路得說,不要催我回去不跟隨妳,妳往那裡去,我也往那裡去.妳在哪裡住宿,我也在那裡住宿.妳的國就是我的國,妳的 神就是我的 神. 妳在那裡死,我也在那裡死,也葬在那裡.
她們到了伯利恆,拿俄米對城民們說,不要叫我拿俄米〔拿俄米就是甜的意思〕因為全能者使我受了大苦.我滿滿的出去,耶和華使我空空的回來,耶和華降禍與我,全能者使我受苦,既是這樣,你們為何還叫我拿俄米呢.要叫我瑪拉〔瑪拉就是苦的意思〕.
然而,事情自此有著美好虔誠的發展,拿俄米死去的丈夫以利米勒的親族中,有一個人名叫波阿斯,住在伯利恆,他擁有很多豐沃的田地, 是個大財主.波阿斯讓路得在他田裡收割,波阿斯一眼就看上路得甚至娶了她.拿俄米和路得便隨著波阿斯同住,從此拿俄米不再痛苦而是愉快的生活著.
波阿斯與路得生了一個兒子.就給孩子起名叫俄備得,這俄備得生耶西,耶西就是以色列大衛王的父親.耶穌的血統就從這牧羊孩成為國王開始.摩押的年輕女子路得選擇了她的城民,在以色列開枝散葉.這是個美好的結局,不是嗎?
接下來,如果沒有提到舊約裡約伯記的故事,那今天的主題,也不能算是說得完整.
約伯記 Job 1:1-3
1 烏斯地、有一個人名叫約伯．那人完全正直、敬畏 神、遠離惡事。
There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job, and that man was perfect and upright and one that feared God, and eschewed evil.
2 他生了七個兒子、三個女兒．
And there were born unto him seven sons and three daughters.
3 他的家產有七千羊、三千駱駝、五百對牛、五百母驢、並有許多僕婢．這人在東方人中就為至大。
His substance also was seven thousand sheep, and three thousand camels, and five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred she asses, and a very great household; so that this man was the greatest of all the men of the east.
約伯是一位完全正直且敬畏 神、遠離惡事的人.
約伯記 Job 1:9-12
9 撒但回答耶和華說、約伯敬畏 神、豈是無故呢。
"Does Job fear God for nothing?" Satan replied.
10 你豈不是四面圈上籬笆圍護他和他的家、並他一切所有的麼．他手所作的、都蒙你賜福．他的家產也在地上增多。
"Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has? You have blessed the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land.
11 你且伸手、毀他一切所有的、他必當面棄掉你。
But stretch out your hand and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face."
12 耶和華對撒但說、凡他所有的、都在你手中．只是不可伸手加害於他。於是撒但從耶和華面前退去。
The LORD said to Satan, "Very well, then, everything he has is in your hands, but on the man himself do not lay a finger." Then Satan went out from the presence of the LORD.
撒旦卻說:因為 神的恩賜,享有榮華富貴,所以不會背棄 神.如果讓我奪去他的所有,想必約伯就會棄 神而去.
(約伯記 Job 1:13-19)
13 有一天、約伯的兒女正在他們長兄的家裡、喫飯喝酒、
14 有報信的來見約伯、說、牛正耕地、驢在旁邊喫草．
15 示巴人忽然闖來、把牲畜擄去、並用刀殺了僕人．惟有我一人逃脫、來報信給你。
16 他還說話的時候、又有人來說、 神從天上降下火來、將群羊、和僕人、都燒滅了．惟有我一人逃脫、來報信給你。
17 他還說話的時候、又有人來說、迦勒底人分作三隊、忽然闖來、把駱駝擄去、並用刀殺了僕人．惟有我一人逃脫、來報信給你。
18 他還說話的時候、又有人來說、你的兒女正在他們長兄的家裡、喫飯喝酒．
19 不料、有狂風從曠野颳來、擊打房屋的四角、房屋倒塌在少年人身上、他們就都死了．惟有我一人逃脫、來報信給你。
撒旦得命,極盡一切手段使壞,轉眼間就讓約伯傾家蕩產.
虔誠的遠景Godly Perspective
約伯記 Job 1:20-22
20 約伯便起來、撕裂外袍、剃了頭、伏在地上下拜、
Then Job arose and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground and worshiped,
21 說、我赤身出於母胎、也必赤身歸回．賞賜的是耶和華．收取的也是耶和華。耶和華的名是應當稱頌的。
And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither; the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.
22 在這一切的事上、約伯並不犯罪、也不以 神為愚妄。
In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.
約伯受此打擊,並未喪志或怨天尤人,反更加自省,俯仰無愧天地.
約伯記 Job 2:3-6; 7-8; 10
3 耶和華問撒但說、你曾用心察看我的僕人約伯沒有．地上再沒有人像他完全正直、敬畏 神、遠離惡事．你雖激動我攻擊他、無故的毀滅他．他仍然持守他的純正。
Then the LORD said to Satan, "Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil. And he still maintains his integrity, though you incited me against him to ruin him without any reason."
4 撒但回答耶和華說、人以皮代皮、情願捨去一切所有的、保全性命。
"Skin for skin!" Satan replied. "A man will give all he has for his own life.
5 你且伸手、傷他的骨頭、和他的肉．他必當面棄掉你。
But stretch out your hand and strike his flesh and bones, and he will surely curse you to your face."
6 耶和華對撒但說、他在你手中．只要存留他的性命。
The LORD said to Satan, "Very well, then, he is in your hands; but you must spare his life."
7 於是撒但從耶和華面前退去、擊打約伯、使他從腳掌到頭頂、長毒瘡。
So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD and afflicted Job with painful sores from the soles of his feet to the top of his head.
8 約伯就坐在爐灰中、拿瓦片刮身體。
Then Job took a piece of broken pottery and scraped himself with it as he sat among the ashes.
10 約伯卻對他說、你說話像愚頑的婦人一樣。噯、難道我們從 神手裡得福、不也受禍麼。在這一切的事上、約伯並不以口犯罪。
He replied, "You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?" In all this, Job did not sin in what he said.
撒旦見約伯不為所動,遂以身外之物,失之不痛為由,再度要求懲治及至體膚,使心有所撼,動之以情,必然要背棄 神而去.可是,約伯是個信念堅毅的人,他想榮華富貴是 神恩賜,身體髮膚不也是得之 神恩賜?既然身外物或有缺損,身體髮膚,又豈能無傷?唯一切以天命為是,並未離 神棄道而去,反而以更加虔誠的心,敬畏 神.
約伯記 Job 42:12; 15-17
12 這樣、耶和華後來賜福給約伯、比先前更多．他有一萬四千羊、六千駱駝、一千對牛、一千母驢。
So the Lord blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning; for he had fourteen thousand sheep, and six thousand camels, and a thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand she asses.
15 在那全地的婦女中、找不著像約伯的女兒那樣美貌．他們的父親使他們在弟兄中得產業。
Nowhere in all the land were there found women as beautiful as Job's daughters, and their father granted them an inheritance along with their brothers.
16 此後、約伯又活了一百四十年、得見他的兒孫、直到四代。
After this, Job lived a hundred and forty years; he saw his children and their children to the fourth generation.
17 這樣、約伯年紀老邁、日子滿足而死。
And so he died, old and full of years.
約伯信靠與遵從主的堅強信念,使他擁有虔誠的遠景,看待事務相當透徹,一切以天命為依歸,財損體傷,皆難以動搖其心志;撒旦的陰謀詭計,最終落得失敗收場,而約伯也再次獲得恩賜,甚至於得到比之前更多的福報與獎賞.
約伯記 Job 13:15
15 他必殺我．我雖無指望、然而我在他面前還要辯明我所行的。
Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him; I will surely defend my ways to his face.
常言道:危機就是轉機,也有人嗤之以鼻.但是,我相信它的確是如此.而且,在我的人生當中,就曾有過一次這樣真實的經驗.在上次的危機中,不僅讓我認識凱西,並娶她為妻,並且在我們家,成立教會好多年.
因為我們的承諾,給了當時沒有別的教堂可去的人們,有一個做禮拜可以聚會的地方,並且讓我們有傳揚福音與教導人們的服侍機會.
彼得一書 1 Peter 3:15
15 只要心裡尊主基督為聖．有人問你們心中盼望的緣由、就要常作準備、以溫柔敬畏的心回答各人．
But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts; and be ready always to give an answer with meekness and fear to every man that asketh of you a reason for the hope that is in you:
應該把危機當成是獲得轉機的最佳契機.
有什麼比在危機當中,因轉機而可獲致的更大利益呢?
路加福音 Luke 1:37
37 因為出於 神的話、沒有一句不帶能力的。
For with God nothing can be impossible.
Mark 10:27
27 耶穌看著他們說，倚靠錢財的， 在人是不能、在 神卻不然．因為 神凡事都能。
And Jesus, looking upon them, said, With men that trust in riches, it is impossible; but not impossible with men who trust in God and leave all for my sake, for with such all these things are possible.
所以,我們須要一個虔誠的遠景,只要我們信靠、遵從與服侍主,當任何事情發生在我們的身上時(危機),會使我們的歷練,得到更為完美的結局(轉機),因為一切皆在主的掌管之中.
這是今天我想要跟大家分享的內容,在這新舊年交替的當口,祝願大家 ~ 事事順心,有個美好的結果.
(Those Who Came : Paul Lin; Belinda Kao; Eric Ho, Eileen Chen)(Ruby Chen)
(Skype to : Frank Van Fleet; <Brotherton> Jared, Jordan; <Lade> Sarah, Amanda, David, Anna, Joseph; <Moellmann> Matthew, Jai-yu, Joshua; Maggie, Sasha, Uncel; Adam Brendel; Ben Nelson; Elizabeth Woodward; <Lewis> Breanna, Caralea; Judy)
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